Jont knows his forte. The lanky Englishman, who has made Halifax, Nova Scotia his home, works fairly strictly in the medium of positive vibrations, often reinforced by unbridled bare-foot dancing. His latest video, “Surrounded by Love”, is a fine example of that and very likely the sort of musical catharsis the world could make use of at the moment.
The song comes from Jont’s recently released album, Thank You for the Medicine. The album as a whole is a beautiful example of more is more. Where Jont had previously worked with a humble austerity Thank You for the Medicine takes a left turn and dives into layer after layer, resplendendant with a choir, string quartet, sitar and harmonium along with a surprising number of bleeps and bloops.
“There is so much joy in these tunes…” says Jont about the album. “They are the antidote to the tough side of what we’re going through right now.”
“This song is about friendship,” he says. “It’s about remembering to live, every day, and remembering that every day is a bonus and we get to jump around, and dance for joy, and sing, and be human!
“The beauty doesn’t go away or stop, we just stop seeing it.”
Of course, you might notice that one of the keywords in “Surrounded By Love” is the “surrounded” part, and the video reflects that. Fortunately, it was filmed well before COVID; all the way back in the Summer of 2019.
“It was filmed in Halifax before we offered the first live show with the new sound,” says Jont. “And speaking of the song being about friendship, my friends Matthew Ingraham and Lee Lester shot and edited the video, and did some really fun animation work on it, respectively, and now it really pops!
“In the video, you can see some of the brilliant people who have made Thank You For The Medicine the album that it is. It really demonstrates the feel-good anthem of oneness and joy that we know as ‘Surrounded By Love.’
Jont also notes that, while we might be experiencing a time full of new challenges, it’s also an opportunity for learning and growth.
“I know there’s a huge variety of situations being experienced right now, with some feeling trapped or lonely, some working in very stressful environments, and others feeling they’re having an enlightening break from the norm. It’s obviously not easy for any of us as time drags us out of our peaceful place, even when that’s where we most need to be.
“But we are in charge of how we react to any given situation and right now, to be happy, the same timeless rules exist that have been taught by all the great masters for thousands of years.
“And most especially, music helps! It’s a tool that allows us to drop into the moment of ‘now’ very easily. Perhaps this is the sort of record the world needs right now. Never before has the world’s conversation been as aware and tuned into issues of healing, trauma, and the power of the human heart as it is now.”